What is the Difference Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?

The main difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced is that JEE Main is an eligibility test to qualify for JEE Advanced and NITs while JEE Advanced is to qualify for IITs.

JEE Main is an undergraduate entrance examination for engineering studies that is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It was first introduced in 2002 as AIEEE.

JEE Advanced (formerly IIT-JEE) is similar to JEE Main, however, it is conducted by one of the 7 zonal IITs, with the guidance of the Joint Admission Board, and is specially geared towards getting admissions to the IITs, unlike JEE Main which gives you admissions to IIITs, NITs, and other colleges.

Difference Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced

JEE Main determines how much a candidate understands the concepts and topics taught during their 11th and 12th grade. JEE Advanced, however, determines the candidate’s problem-solving skills by providing problems that aren’t covered in school.

JEE Advanced, however, requires you to pass JEE Main to qualify. Admissions to premium institutes such as IIT are reserved for candidates who passed JEE Advanced. Of course, that’s not the only difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced. So let’s look at some of the other factors that put them at odds with each other.

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Overview

Particulars	JEE Main	JEE Advanced
Full Form	Joint Entrance Examination Main	Joint Entrance Examination Advanced
Exam Level	National	National
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)	IIT Bombay
Category	Undergraduate	Undergraduate
Mode of Application	Online	Online & Offline
Frequency	Bi-annually	Annually
Medium of Question Paper	English, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odiya, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, and Urdu	English and Hindi

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Eligibility Criteria

The main difference between JEE Main vs JEE Advance lies with their syllabi, the institutes, and the eligibility criteria. JEE Advanced may not have as many topics as JEE Main would cover, but it is no less complex. The most important eligibility criterion both exams take into consideration is your Class 12 pass percentage, of which you need at least 75% or above.

Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2026

Students can check the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria as per the NTA guidelines, listed below

• Qualifications
  • JEE Main candidates must have passed their Class 12 exams from either the previous or the current year. Current Class 12 students must pass the exams that will take place next year.
  • They must also have achieved a minimum of 75% of marks in their final exams; 65% if they are of SC/ST/PwD categories.
• Attempts
  • Candidates can appear for the JEE Main for 3 years consecutively, which are conducted bi-annually, i.e., twice a year. It’s interesting to mention that attempting both sessions during the same year would still be counted as 1 year.
• Age Limit
  • There is no age limitation for JEE Main.
• Mode of Exam
  • JEE Main Paper is divided into two papers: Paper 1 & Paper 2. Paper 1 (B.Tech/BE) is conducted online (Computer Based Examination).
  • In contrast, Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning) is conducted offline (Pen and paper-based examination).
• Paper Type 
  • The JEE Main Question Paper (Paper 1) has MCQ covering Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics.

Eligibilty Criteria for JEE Advanced 2026

Students can check the JEE Advanced eligibility criteria as per the NTA guidelines, listed below

• Qualifications
  • For JEE Advanced, all of them must pass the JEE Main exams themselves and must be in the top 20th percentile of successful Class 12 candidates.
  • The number of subjects they pick for their Class 12 studies also matters; the candidate must have opted for 5 subjects, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as mandatory picks.
• Attempts
  • JEE Advanced exams grant 2 retries are allowed for 2 consecutive years, even though the exams are conducted annually.
• Age Limit
  • Unlike the JEE Main, the JEE Advanced does have an age limit. As for the criteria for the 2026 examinations, only the candidates born on/after October 1, 1998 will be allowed to appear for the examination.
  • The candidates who fall under the SC/ST/PwD categories are given a relaxation of 5 years.
• Mode of Exam
  • Criteria 1
    • The JEE Advanced exam is held online (Computer Based Examination) mode only. Furthermore, JEE Advanced Examination consists of two papers: Paper 1 & Paper 2.
    • The students have to appear in the Paper 1 & Paper 2 exam for admission in the engineering courses.
  • Criteria 2
    • Candidates aspiring to get admission into B. Arch programme offered by the IITs have to pass both Papers 1 & 2 and then apply for the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT).
    • Seven zonal IITs conduct AAT. Nonetheless, candidates can apply for the AAT exam after qualifying for the JEE Advanced Exam.
• Paper Type 
  • JEE Advanced Paper 1 & 2 has objective questions from the same subjects. The questions were more based on physical chemistry than Organic and Inorganic Chemistry.
  • For Chemistry, most of the questions were selected from the NCERT syllabus.
  • Algebra & Calculus-based questions were given more priority for the Mathematics portion.

Also Check: What Are The Benefits of Taking up JEE Main 2026?

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Exam Pattern

The students can check the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced exam patterns from the tables mentioned below. 

JEE Main Exam Pattern

JEE Main is held in two sessions for three papers. The marking scheme for each paper varies. Further, the exam pattern is also different. For a better understanding, here is the JEE Main exam pattern:

JEE Main Exam Pattern

Specifications	JEE Main 2026 Pattern for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)	JEE Main 2026 Pattern for Paper 2 (B.Arch.)	JEE Main 2026 Pattern for Paper 3 (B. Planning)
Exam Mode	Computer Based Test (CBT)	Mathematics and Aptitude - CBT Mode Drawing- Pen and paper mode	CBT
Subjects	Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics	Aptitude test, Mathematics and Drawing	Mathematics, Aptitude Test, and Planning Based Objective Type
Type of Questions	60 (MCQs having 4 options each with 1 correct option)	Maths- 20 (MCQs)	Maths- 20 (MCQs)
	15 (Questions for which the answer is a Numerical Value)	5 (Questions for which answer is a Numerical Value)	5 (Questions for which answer is a Numerical Value)
		Aptitude- 50 MCQ + Drawing- 2 Questions	Aptitude- 50 MCQs + Planning Based Objective Type- 25 MCQs
Duration of Exam	3 Hours	3 Hours	3 Hours
Total Marks	300	400	400
Marking Scheme	For MCQs: +4 for each correct response	For MCQs: +4 for each correct response	For MCQs: +4 for each correct response
	-1 for each incorrect response	-1 for each incorrect response	-1 for each incorrect response
	Unattempted questions will not be marked.	Unattempted questions will not be marked.	Unattempted questions will not be marked.
	For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response	For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response	For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response
	No negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.	No negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.	No negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.
		For Drawing Test: 2 questions of 100 marks

Also Check: How to Prepare for JEE Main 2026 in 6 Months?

JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 2026

JEE Advanced examination is held in two different papers and the candidates must be updated about the exam pattern. Here is the JEE Advanced 2026 exam pattern: 

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Exam Syllabus

JEE Main curriculum involves Class 11+12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Since the examination is conducted by the CBSE, the syllabus comes directly from them. The CBSE-prescribed curriculum is also transferred to JEE Advanced’s curriculum, however, there is an added bundle of concepts that are neither taught nor explored in JEE Main to learn about.

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Syllabus

Subjects	Topics Unique to JEE Main	Topics Unique to JEE Advanced
Physics	Electronic Devices	Thermal Physics
	Electronic Waves
	Communication Systems
Chemistry	Biomolecules	Electrochemistry;
	Chemistry in Everyday Life	Nuclear Chemistry
Mathematics	Sets, Relations & Functions	-
	Statistics & Probability
	Trigonometry
	Mathematical Reasoning
Architecture	Not part of the syllabus	Aptitude Test

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Admissions in Colleges

Next up is how things work with regard to their admissions. If taking up BE or B.Tech courses in reputable institutes sounds like it’s up to your alley, then it’s necessary for you to perform well in the JEE Main.

Institutes such as the National Institute of Technology (NITs), the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs), and any Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) take in JEE Main candidates.

For JEE Advanced, though, you must have already finished JEE Main to be admitted into JEE Advanced assessments. Performing your best in this exam would mean getting into the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), including the Indian School of Mines (ISM).

Both institutes carry much prestige and have a commendable reputation.

JEE Main and JEE Advanced Admissions

JEE Main Institutes	JEE Advanced Institutes
National Institute of Technology (NIT)	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIT)	IIT (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad
Centrally Funded Technical Institute

Also Check: Minimum Marks in JEE Main to Qualify for JEE Advanced 2026